Drive train for low profile vehicle

ABSTRACT

A compact drive train for a low profile vehicle positions the engine, torque converter and transmission between the vehicle axles, the engine being offset from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and the transmission being positioned on the centerline of the vehicle in side-by-side relationship with the engine, and both axles being driven from a drop box by means of a pair of drive shafts, one of which extends underneath the transmission.

Luft 1 July 18, 1972 [54] DRIVE TRAIN FOR LOW PROFILE 3,331,464 7/1967Van Doome.....' ..l/44 R VEHICLE FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72]Inventor: Robert G. Lult, Wildwood, lll.

1,927,737 2/1970 Germany ..180/54 R Asslsneer Intern-ml Hamster p y.495,022 11/1938 Great Britain ..1so/44 R Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: April 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-A. Harry Levy Attorney-FloydB. Harman [2!] Appl. No.: 134,557

ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl ..l80/44 R, /54 R, 180/70 R, A compact drive trainfor a profile vehicle posiu-ms Ihc l C 280/111 engine, torque converterand transmission between the vehi- [5| Ill-d I}. ..B60k 5/08 cle axlesthe engine being fi from the longitudinal center [58] FM 0 Search lineof the vehicle and the transmission being positioned on I the centerlineof the vehicle in side-by-side relationship with the engine, and bothaxles being driven from a drop box by [56] Rem-mes Cited means of a pairof drive shafts, one of which extends un- UNITED STATES PATENTS demeahtransmlsswn- 3,064,746 I l/ l 962 Williamson 1 80/54 R 5 Claim, 3Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l lhvfnzorx (BFaber! G. luff w hnw Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ihz/nzor:(B Robert lluf'i M/@ DRIVE TRAIN FOR LOW PROFILE VEHICLE CROSS REFERENCETO RELATED APPLICATION This invention is similar to that disclosed inapplication, Ser. No. 796,37l filed Feb. 4, I969, now US. Pat. No.3,614,989 granted Oct. 26, l97l.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Machines for towing and groundmanipulation of aircraft must have sufficient drawbar power to move theaircraft at acceptable ground speeds, must be maneuverable in bothforward and reverse directions, must have a relatively low profile inorder that the machine can go under the wings and most other appendagesof the aircraft and desirably has a relatively flat top surface whichmay function as an elevated working platform and has both ends of thevehicle free to accept equipment, such as auxiliary power units,necessary for service and maintenance of the aircraft.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehiclefor filling the requirements outlined above.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a vehicle in which theentire power train is positioned between the axles to maintain a lowprofile and having both ends of the vehicle free to accept operatorstations and auxiliary equipment.

These and other objects of the present invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will become more readily apparent uponperusal of the following description and the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle having a drive train arrangementaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,there is shown a vehicle, indicated generally at having a pair of axlesl2 and 14. The rear axle 12, the designations front and rear being usedhere for convenience since the vehicle may have an operators station ateach end, is attached to the vehicle frame 16 through securing pads 18and are supported by ground-engaging wheels 20. The front axle isprovided with similar securing pads 22 which are secured to a bolster 24which is pivotally secured to the frame 16 about a longitudinal axis,permitting the front axle I4 to oscillate relative to the frame. Thefront axle 14 is supported on ground-engaging wheels 26. The axles l2and 14 include a differential which is driven through differential inputshafts 28 and 30 respectively.

Power for the vehicle 10 is supplied by a prime mover, such as aninternal combustion engine 32, which is mounted between the two axlesand to one side of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. Atransfer case 34 is secured to the output end of the engine 32 andextends inward towards the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle andupward to drivingly connect with a torque converter 36. A direction andspeed change transmission 38 is driven by the output from the torqueconverter 36. For convenience and conservation of space, it is oftendesirable to enclose the torque converter and transmission in the samehousing or in separate housings directly affixed to each other. Theoutput from the transmission 38 is connected through a shaft 40 with theinput to a drop box 42 which extends downward and has double outputshafts 44 and 46. The torque converter, transmission and drop box areall positioned substantially on the longitudinal centerline of thevehicle. The output shaft 44 of the drop box 42 is connected with adrive shaft 48 which is connected at its other end with the input shaft28 of the rear axle difierential. This drive shaft extends underneaththe transmission, the torque converter and the transfer case to affectits connection with the rear axle differential input 28. The otheroutput shaft 46 of the drop box 42 is connected with the differentialinput 30 of the front axle 14 through a drive shaft 50.

Cooling for the engine 42 is provided by a radiator and fan assembly 52which is located on the side of the transmission and torque converteropposite to the engine. Power for driving the fan of the radiator fanassembly 52 is provided by a power means 54, which may be anyconventional means, such as an electric motor, a hydraulic motor orthrough mechanical belt drive through equally conventional pulley meansoff of the transfer case 34. A tank for holding the fuel for the engine32 may be positioned underneath the radiator fan assembly 52 forward ofthe rear wheel 20 and laterally to the side of the drop box 42 andtransmission 38.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that thearrangement of components provides a vehicle with all of the desiredattributes for its intended purpose. Specifically, the major componentsof the vehicle are all congregated between the two axles in a manner tomaintain a low profile and yet achieve reasonable maneuverabliliy,leaving both ends of the vehicle outside of the axles free to acceptoperator's stations and auxiliary equipment.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be apparent that various modifications andchanges may be made therein without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A compact power train for a vehicle which permits a low profile, saidvehicle including a frame supported on wheeled front and rear axles;said power train comprising:

a transmission including a casing mounted on the frame between the axlesand positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle;

a torque converter attached to the transmission casing adjacent the rearaxle and operatively coupled to the transmission for transmitting powerthereto;

an engine mounted on the frame between the axles and positioned adjacentto and laterally to the side of the transmission;

a transfer drive means operatively connected between the engine and thetorque converter for transmitting power from the engine to the torqueconverter;

a drop box positioned between the transmission and the front axle andconnected with the transmission to be driven thereby;

a first drive shaft extending beneath the transmission from the drop boxto the differential input means of the rear axle and a second driveshaft extending from the drop box to the differential input means of thefront axle.

2. A compact power train for a vehicle which permits a low profile, saidvehicle having a frame supported on wheeled front and rear axles, eachaxle including a differential, said ower train comprising: 7

an engine mounted on the vehicle frame to one side of the framescenterline and positioned between the axles;

a transfer drive means operatively coupled to the engine and extendinginward and upward;

a torque converter positioned on the frames centerline and coupled withthe transfer drive means;

a direction and speed change transmission positioned on the framescenterline and coupled with the torque converter;

a drop box coupled to the transmission and positioned on the framescenterline, the drop box extending downward and having a pair of outputshafts adjacent its lower end;

a first drive shaft connected to one of the output shafts and with oneaxles difi'erential;

and a second drive shaft connected to the other output shaft extendingunder the transmission and torque converter and connected to the otheraxles differential.

3. In a vehicle having a frame supported on wheeled front and rear axleseach axle including a differential; the improvement comprising:

an engine mounted on the frame on one and between the axles;

a transfer drive means connected with the engine and extending inwardand upward;

a torque converter, transmission and drop box respectively arranged inserial driving connection in a central position side of the vehicleframe on the opposite side of the vehicle between the axles; and meansfor transmitting power to the fan. 5. in a vehicle according to claim 4,and further comprising: fuel tank means positioned on the frame on saidopposite side underneath the engine cooling means and between the axles.

1. A compact power train for a vehicle which permits a low profile, saidvehicle including a frame supported on wheeled front and rear axles;said power train comprising: a transmission including a casing mountedon the frame between the axles and positioned on the longitudinalcenterline of the vehicle; a torque converter attached to thetransmission casing adjacent the rear axle and operatively coupled tothe transmission for transmitting power thereto; an engine mounted onthe frame between the axles and positioned adjacent to and laterally tothe side of the transmission; a transfer drive means operativelyconnected between the engine and the torque converter for transmittingpower from the engine to the torque converter; a drop box positionedbetween the transmission and the front axle and connected with thetransmission to be driven thereby; a first drive shaft extending beneaththe transmission from the drop box to the differential input means ofthe rear axle and a second drive shaft extending from the drop box tothe differential input means of the front axle.
 2. A compact power trainfor a vehicle which permits a low profile, said vehicle having a framesupported on wheeled front and rear axles, each axle including adifferential, said power train comprising: an engine mounted on thevehicle frame to one side of the frame''s centerline and positionedbetween the axles; a transfer drive means operatively coupled to theengine and extending inward and upward; a torque converter positioned onthe frame''s centerline and coupled with the transfer drive means; adirection and speed change transmission positioned on the frame''scenterline and coupled with the torque conVerter; a drop box coupled tothe transmission and positioned on the frame''s centerline, the drop boxextending downward and having a pair of output shafts adjacent its lowerend; a first drive shaft connected to one of the output shafts and withone axle''s differential; and a second drive shaft connected to theother output shaft extending under the transmission and torque converterand connected to the other axle''s differential.
 3. In a vehicle havinga frame supported on wheeled front and rear axles, each axle including adifferential; the improvement comprising: an engine mounted on the frameon one side of the vehicle and between the axles; a transfer drive meansconnected with the engine and extending inward and upward; a torqueconverter, transmission and drop box respectively arranged in serialdriving connection in a central position on the frame between the axles,the torque converter being connected to the transfer drive means and thedrop box extending downward and having a pair of output stubs at itslower end; drive shaft means extending from each stub to one of thedifferentials.
 4. In a vehicle according to claim 3, and furthercomprising: engine cooling means including a fan positioned on the frameon the opposite side of the vehicle between the axles; and means fortransmitting power to the fan.
 5. In a vehicle according to claim 4, andfurther comprising: fuel tank means positioned on the frame on saidopposite side underneath the engine cooling means and between the axles.